Insects may be smarter than we think

By JOHN PERRY

Published 12:19 pm, Monday, April 15, 2013

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John Perry

John Perry

Insects may be smarter than we think

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A few days ago I happened to be listening to a local weather report. After the forecaster had given his report, he mentioned the fact that several states on the East Coast were about to experience a phenomenon that occurs once every 17 years. Cicadas are emerging by the millions after lying dormant for all that time. They go through a mating ritual, lay their eggs and then after another 17 years it occurs again. As a youth I think we called them locusts, and the sounds they made were quite distracting.

This also reminded me of similar events that occurred. I remember we had years when the grasshoppers would appear in great numbers, and they would cause considerable crop damage.

One year I remember we had an invasion of dragonflies. I can’t remember what they fed on. They had long bodies and large iridescent wings and would land on our country roads, and the reflections all those wings made were remarkable and impressive.

Now, just today, I heard a scientist say there are findings of a supposedly new species of mosquito, and it is said to more the size of a grasshopper as opposed to the standard mosquito. This could produce new health concerns if it feeds on blood, and can carry and transmit certain diseases.

I once read a science-fiction book about the world having to deal with huge insects of all sorts. What if some of these pests developed a reasoning brain? If some can sleep for 17 years and still remember what to do . . . hmmm.

Longtime Plainviewan John Perry is a freelance writer living in Amarillo.